One of boxing’s most unique, steadily rising companies has emerged from Las Vegas.

TKO Boxing Promotions has developed a concept dating back to boxing’s original glory years: its Hometown Heroes to World Champions series, which has grown to 26 shows this year, scours the country in search of local talent.

While building a fighter, it builds a market.

“You go into a market and find two or three guys who can really fight and sell tickets,” said TKO President Chet Koerner, a Houston native who made Las Vegas the company headquarters when it launched operations last year. “You run the shows at break-even or a small loss if necessary, but you develop the fighter and the town for boxing. There were studies done that said you needed to go run six shows in a city to start making money. We can do it in two or three. Bring the same fighters back, get people talking about their performance and you come back with good fights that people want to see.”

And then fortune may intervene. A fighter may emerge from the local markets, proceed through regional areas and finally become a televised commodity and/or win a world championship. That’s when the big payback occurs.

“You can’t develop a fighter if you can’t sell him in his hometown,” Koerner said. “That’s the place you start. What’s happened in boxing over the years is that a lot of promoters take TV licensing money, stack it on top of casino money and never sell a ticket.”

Many industry sharks even wait while someone like Koerner does the heavy lifting and then they steal the fighter. That’s the biggest fear of local promoters when they look to build fighters. But Koerner, connected with well-respected industry matchmaker Chris Middendorf, has managed to retain rights to high-flying boxers. TKO Promotions can befriend boxing’s biggest hitters by, for example, placing one of that organization’s fighters on its local cards. The practice encourages cooperation down the road.

Rolando Reyes provides an example of the TKO rise. The California fighter, whom the organization developed ties with through his management,  recently won a world title and is negotiating with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions to appear on an August card.

Three months ago, TKO signed former amateur standouts Cortez and Mickey Bey. Both are from Cleveland. Both are managed by Cameron Dunkin, who also guides boxing champions Kelly Pavlik, Steven Luevano and Nonito Donaire. A partnership has been forged.

As it barnstorms the country, TKO looks to stage a bout in its backyard, Las Vegas, in September or October.

“We’ve been everywhere,” Koerner said, laughing. “We did a show at a barn in Iowa. We’ve been at a catering hall in Glen Burnie, Maryland, a concert hall here, a small arena there. Usually, we wage bouts in venues from 2,000 to 7,000 people. What we’ve seen from it is that boxing really is recession-proof. At the end of the day, it’s entertainment, and if you price it right, you are going to do well.”

Neighborhood fights and local rivalries remain areas boxing has under-served in this get-rich-quick age. After a few bouts and a spotless record, a fighter’s management often looks to cash in on a pay-per-view event. Most promoters won’t have the patience to run several shows at or near the profit level, but Koerner’s group will ultimately develop fighters and gain its share of televised dates.

One of them occurred in February, in Reno, selling out a nice-sized venue. Area stars Jesse Brinkley and Joey Gilbert had a bona fide rivalry. It was parlayed into a strong event.

Boxing has a short list of lucrative promotional companies. Golden Boy and Las Vegas-based Top Rank Inc. are serious players, and a power vacuum exists with the declining influence of Don King. TKO Promotions is building, block by block, in an effort to join them. It’s boxing growth, grassroots style.

Sound the Drumbeats

It’s officially safe to become excited over the next Vegas blockbuster. Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez square off July 18 at MGM—after a press tour that includes Los Angeles, New York and London.

These are two of the sport’s ultra-elite professionals. Mayweather retired undefeated, but was goaded back first by Ricky Hatton, whom he beat last year, and now Marquez, a tough, savvy, inside veteran. Like a handful of Mayweather’s opponents, Marquez has the toughness to score well if he gets inside. Mayweather, however, always appears unflappable. Look forward to this one.ú

By Dave Bontempo

Casino Connection Sports Editor Dave Bontempo is an award-winning sports writer and broadcaster who calls boxing matches all over the world. He has covered the Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs, as well as numerous PGA, LPGA and Seniors Golf Tour events, and co-hosted the Casino Connection television program with Publisher Roger Gros.